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The Missouri Valley Conference reprimanded Wichita State basketball coach Gregg Marshall on Tuesday for his comments after Saturday’s loss to Illinois State.

WSU released a statement in which Marshall apologized, while not backing off his displeasure.

“While I regret my choice of words in a public forum, and insinuations that could have been made as a result, my thoughts regarding the game remain,” he said.

The Shockers lost 65-64 in the semifinals of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in St. Louis. Marshall, in the post-game news conference, said that he looked forward to playing his next game on a neutral floor. He also said he was surprised to see center Garrett Stutz receive a technical foul, and continued, “Didn’t seem like they wanted to see him play too much.”

In addition to the rough play between Stutz and Illinois State’s John Wilkins that led to a double technical in the second half, the Shocker bench protested several calls that went against WSU. Stutz, in the post-game news conference, said officials warned Wilkins repeatedly about rough play, without taking any measures to stop him. Wilkins was ejected in the second half. He received a technical foul early in the game for hitting Stutz in the face as the two men were tangled up on the floor.

"I acknowledge the public reprimand from the Missouri Valley Conference regarding my comments and actions following Saturday’s game in the MVC Tournament. I apologize to Commissioner (Doug) Elgin and to the Missouri Valley Conference as a whole,” Marshall said. "I will have no further comment regarding this as we prepare Wichita State for the NCAA Tournament."

Saturday’s exit wasn’t the first time WSU and Marshall departed St. Louis angrily. In 2008, he received two technical fouls — calls he maintains were unwarranted — and was ejected from his first tournament game at WSU. In 2009, WSU lost to Creighton on a last-second shot, a controversial ending marred by timing errors.

MVC policy prohibits “public criticism of game officials or of the conference, and violations of these rules can lead to a private or public reprimand, or to game suspensions.”

WSU athletic director Eric Sexton said he hopes to learn from this situation.

“I believe in, support and appreciate Coach Marshall for his passion and competitive nature, and that what he said following Saturday’s game was not intended to be completely interpreted in the way it was taken,” Sexton said in a news release. “I also understand the public reprimand by the Missouri Valley Conference of Wichita State for breaking post-game policy and protocol.”

Ragland, Stutz honored — Wichita State basketball players Joe Ragland and Garrett Stutz were voted to the All-District VI team announced Tuesday by U.S. Basketball Writers Association.

Kansas forward Thomas Robinson was named Player of the Year, and he joins Ragland, Stutz, teammate Tyshawn Taylor and Kansas State guard Rodney McGruder on the 10-man team. Creighton forward Doug McDermott is also on the team.

Schools from Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota are included in the district. There are nine regions.

Ragland and Stutz received All-Missouri Valley Conference honors last week. They are the first Shockers voted to an all-district team since Paul Miller in 2005-06.

Missouri’s Frank Haith was named Coach of the Year. Other members of the team are Missouri’s Marcus Denmon and Ricardo Ratliffe, Iowa State’s Royce White and Nate Wolters of South Dakota State.

Diamond honored by MVC — WSU women’s basketball player Jessica Diamond was named to the MVC Scholar-Athlete second team.

Diamond, a junior guard from Houston, has a 3.31 grade-point average in psychology. She averages 13.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists. She recently became the 18th Shocker to score 1,000 or more career points.

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